Washing-machine.



No. 055,360. Patented Aug. 7, |900.

f 0. w. BOLTON.

WASHING MACHINE.

(Application ledune 1, 1899.) (N0 Model.) 2Sheets$heat l.

ff- "E i /9 In 3mm/nto@ No. 655,360. Pat'ented Aug. 7, |900.

G. W. BOLTON.

WASHING MACHINE.

[Application 'filed June 1, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2 M@ M 2 18 0 j] www 7% 31a/vanto@ G60. W30. limb,

l l attenua/1j UNITED STATES GEORGE WILLIAM BOLTON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF HONEY GROVE, TEXAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 655,860, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed .Tune 1, 1899. Serial No. 718,993. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM BOL- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Honey Grove, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful lashing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing-machines of the class known as pounder-machines; and the object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a receptacle in the form of either a tub or Ordinary washboiler, washing apparatus which may be operated with a minimum amount of labor and which is capable of being easily and quickly repaired in case of breakage by any blacksmith or ordinary mechanic.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully in the course of the ensuing description.

The invention consists in a washing-machine embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangementof parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, the washing apparatus being shown applied to a receptacle in the form of atub. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the same, taken about in line with the operating-lever. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the pounder-heads and its stem looking toward the under side of the head. Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the method of utilizing a small receptacle which is placed within the tub for enablin g a small quantity of clothes to be washed, one of the pounders being omitted. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown as being used in connection with an ordinary washboiler of Oblong form. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the cam-latch for retaining the supportingbar in place in one of the bracket-arms. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the spring bracket-arm.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The washing apparatus contemplated in this invention is designed to be used in a suitable suds-receptacle which may be either in the form of an ordinary washtub, as shown in Fig. 1, or a washboiler, as indicated at 2 in Fig. 5. Attached rigidly to the sides of the tub or boiler, as the case may be, and at diametrically-Opposite points thereon are arms or brackets 3 and 4. The bracket 3 is constructed of a piece of spring metal, and its upper 'end is bent to deliect in an outward direction, as indicated at 4', and provided with alongitudinal slot 5 for the reception of one end of the main supporting-bar 6, upon which the operative parts of the washing apparatus are supported and mounted. The bracket 4 at the'opposite side ofthe receptacle is provided with a notch or open slot 7, enabling the opposite end of the bar 6 to be inserted therein from the top and readily removed therefrom. When said end of the bar 6 is in position in the bottom ofthe notch, it is held by means of a retaining-latch 8, pivotally mounted at 9 on the bracket 4 above the bar Gand having an eccentric or cam edge 10, which operates and binds against the upper surface or edge of the bar 6, thereby preventing the accidental escape of said bar. The upper end 4 of the bracket 3 is so bent or deiiected that it bears with a yielding pressure against the adjacent end of the bar 6, and in depressing the opposite end of said bar into engagement with the bracket 4 it is necessary to put suliicient pressure on the bar to overcome the spring-pressure of the end 4 of the bracket 3. This, in connection with the latch, serves to securely retain the supporting-bar 6 in place and prevent it from moving about or working loose.

Connected to about the central portion of the bar 6 is a strap which is bent to form a loop or guide 11, which receives the lower reduced and rounded end portion 12 of a post 13. This post is provided with a shoulder 14, which limits the downward movement thereof through the guide 11, and its lower extremity is threaded and provided with a nut 15, between which and the guide 11 is a spring 16, encircling the post and exerting a downward pressure on the nut 15, thereby holding the post normally down, while allowing it to yield upward for permitting a corresponding upward yielding movement of the pounder- IOCI heads herein described. By adjusting the nut 15 the tension of the spring 16 may be readily adjusted. The upper portion of the post 13 is provided with a longitudinal series of holes 17 to receive detachable bolts 1S, one of said bolts passing through the operatinglever 19 at a point intermediate the ends of said lever, the other bolt passing through an intermediate opening in a yoke 2O in the form of a bar which extends in parallel relation to the lever 19. The holes 17 are so spaced that both the lever 19 and yoke 2O may be adjusted up and down with relation to the post without disturbing their parallelism 01 their relative distances apart.

Connected to the lever 19 and yoke 2O by means of bolts or rivets 2l are the stems 22 of a pair of pounders 23. The stems 22 are preferably provided with a series of holes for the bolts 21, and the latter may be made removable, so that the stems may be .adjusted up and down for varying the height of the pounder-heads. The stems 22 are located on opposite sides of the supporting-bar 6 and preferably at points equidistant from the post 13, so as to operate at opposite sides of the tub or boiler. Each pou nder-head comprises a top plate one edge of which is described in the arc of the circle of which the middle of the head is the approximate center, said edge being designated at 24. The opposite edge 25 is struck on a circle corresponding, approximately, to the inner contour or curvature of the tub. When the heads are used in a tub, the edges 25 are disposed outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, and when the heads are used in a washboiler the edges 24 are turned outward, as shown in Fig. 5, thus adapting the edge to conform to the inner contour of the two forms of suds-receptacle. Y

Secured to the bottom of the head is a plurality of cups 26, having open bottoms and arranged in a circular series, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the object of this arrangement being to obtain a hold upon the sudswater as the head is thrown downwardly, causing the suds to be forced through the clothing and preventing the suds-water from passing too readily upward past the edges of the head.

Each stem 22 is secured to its respective head 23 by providing the lower end thereof with a lateral extension or footpiece 27, which is rigidly connected to a tripod or three-armed coupling-piece 2S, the outer extremities of which are depressed and riveted or otherwise secured directly to the head. The ootpiece 27 is secured to the central portion of the tripod, so as to be directly over the center of the head.

The application of the washing apparatus to an ordinary boiler is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 and is not thought to need any further description in addition to that given above. When it is desired to wash but a small quantity of clothing, one of the pounder-heads maybe removed from the operating-lever, as

shown in Fig. 4t, and a small receptacle 29 may be placed within the tub, so as to receive the remaining pounder-head. A few quarts or the necessary amount of water may be placed in the receptacle 29 and the machine operated in connection therewith.

The operating-lever 19 is provided at its outer end with a cross head 0r handle 30,which may be formed either as an integral part of the lever or be made of Wood or any desired `material and connected in any convenient manner to the lever. Where the apparatus is used on a deep washboiler, the operatinglever may be deflected or bent upward, as

shown at 3l, to provide for the necessary depth of stroke without the lever coming in contact with the edge of the boiler.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by oscillating the handle 30 up and down motion is imparted to the pounderheads, one being elevated as the other is depressed. After imparting a few strokes to the pounders the handle 30 may be swung horizontally in either direction, as indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 1, thus causing the pounder to swing around within the receptacle, so as to operate upon all of the clothes. While one pounder describes a halfcircle at one side of the tub the other pounder describes a corresponding circle at the other side of the tub, thus washing on both sides of the tub at the same time.

By having the post 13 arranged to yield in a vertical direction the pounders -are prevented from coming in injurious contact with the clothing and being themselves injured by sudden impact upon the hard bottom of the tub or boiler. It will also be observed that provision isV made for adjusting the height of the pounders.

IOO

The generic feature of my invention resides in a vertically-yieldable post, a pounder-carrying device, and a pounder-operating device fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on said post, and this generic feature is present in the embodiments of the .invention represented by Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5. The pounder-carrying device herein referred to consists in the yoke 2O and the stem 22, arranged for operation substantially as shown by the several figures ofthe drawings and hereinbefore described;A

but it is immaterial whether this poundercarrying device supports a single pounder, as shown by Fig. 4, or whether it supports a pair of pounders, as represented by Figs. l, 2, and 5.

It will of course be understood that the hereinbefore-described apparatus is susceptible to various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without 'departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a washing-machine, the combination with a vertically-yielding post, of a pounder- IIO carrying device and a pounder-operating device fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on said post, substantially as speciiied.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination with a suds-receptacle, of a spring-depressed post, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, and Washing apparatus including pounders and an operating-lever fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on said post, substantially as specified.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination with a receptacle, of a vertically-movable post, a stationary guide through which the post moves, a spring encircling said post, a tension-adjusting nut on the post bearing against the spring, and washing apparatusincludingpounders and an operating-lever fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on the post and movable therewith, substantially as specified.

4. In a washing-machine, the combination with a receptacle, of a supporting-bar mounted thereon, avertically-yielding post movable through a guide on said bar, a spring on the post below the bar for allowing the post t0 yield vertically, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, an operating-lever fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on the post above the bar, and pounders attached to the lever, substantially as specified.

5. In a Washing-machine, the combination with a suds-receptacle, of a post mounted to yield vertically and also to turn on a longitudinal axis, pounders arranged at opposite sides thereof, and operating Within the receptacle,

and an operating-lever connected to said 3S pounders, and fulcrumed on a horizontal axis on said post, substantially as specified.

6. In a Washing-machine, the combination with a receptacle, of Washing apparatus, a supporting-bar for said apparatus extending 4o across the receptacle, brackets secured to said receptacle, one of said brackets having a bent and yielding upper end which is slotted to receive and press yieldingly upon one end of the supporting-bar, the other bracket having 45 an open slot or notch and a retaining device for engaging the opposite end of the supporting-arm, substantially as described.

7. In a washing-machine, the combination with a receptacle, ot' Washing apparatus 5o mounted therein, a supporting-bar for the washing apparatus extending across the top of the receptacle, a spring-bracket having a slot in which one end of the supporting-bar is removably tted, the upper, end of said 55 bracket bearing with a yielding pressure against the supporting-bar, and a bracket on the receptacle having a notch to receive the opposite end of the supportingsbar, said bracket having pivotally mounted thereon a 6o retaining-latch which engages said bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAM BOLTON.

Witnesses: A r

S. C. GALBRAITH, O. B. GALBRAITH. 

